South Africa Women vs India Women, 3rd T20I, Review: Ismail and Tyron slam India

The India Women’s team has been playing scintillating cricket during their ongoing tour of South Africa. Mithali Raj’s girls humbled the hosts in the ODI series and have carried forward their rich vein of form in the current five-match T20I series. After decimating the hosts at Potchefstroom and East London respectively, the Women in Blue stood on the cusp of a historic series-victory in Johannesburg.

On the contrary, South Africa gasped for breath to keep themselves alive the series. On a bright Sunday morning, Dane van Niekerk won the toss and elected to have a crack at the Indian batswomen. The decision paid dividends right away as Marizanne Kapp nipped out Mithali Raj for a duck as she attempted to play an aggressive shot through the covers and found Lizelle Lee’s webbings.

Mandhana and Kaur storm along

However, Smriti Mandhana blazed away and scorched Shabnim Ismail for four consecutive boundaries in the second over to kick-start India’s proceedings. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur joined the left-hander at the crease and notched a couple of boundaries to commence her knock. The duo carved a stand of 55 runs off 39 balls which looked ominous for the South Africans.

Nevertheless, skipper van Niekerk introduced herself and dismissed Mandhana for 37 runs as the Mumbai born batswomen pulled a half-tracker into the palms of Moseline Daniels at deep mid-wicket. However, Kaur carried on his own merry way and spanked the spinners to all corners of the Wanderers. She used her feet effectively and muscled a couple of sixes in front of square.

Ismail destroys India

Kaur was severe on Raisibe Ntozakhe and carted him for 18 runs in the 11th over. Nonetheless, Ismail dismissed her on the threshold of a half-century, much to the relief of South Africa. Ismail got rid of 17-year old Jemimah Rodrigues in the same over to clinch the ascendancy back for the hosts. Anuja Patil became the fast-bowlers’ third victim as she holed out to Sune Luss at mid-on.

From India’s perspective, the onus was on Veda Krishnamurthy to resurrect India’s innings. She looked promising and spanked a couple of boundaries of Moseline Daniels. However, she was castled by the left-arm seamer to leave the Indian innings in tatters. After Veda’s dismissal, India huffed and puffed and were eventually bowled out for 133 runs with 13 balls remaining.

India motored along when Mandhana and Kaur were at the crease. After Kaur’s dismissal, the visitors slumped alarmingly and lost eight wickets for 40 runs. Ismail Kapp notched her best figures in T20Is with a stupendous five-wicket haul and the undoubtedly the pick of South Africa’s bowlers. The target wasn’t daunting by any stretch of the imagination.

The hosts stutter as India hold on

South Africa threatened to tee off from the outset as both openers looked to play shots. Lizelle Lee perished in the quest of scoring quick runs. She became Pooja Vastrakar’s first victim as she holed out to long-on for five runs. Skipper van Niekerk played some powerful strokes but eventually fell prey to Rajeshwari Gayakwad’s guile and trajectory for 26 runs.

After the first 10 overs, South Africa strolled to 55/2 and required a further 79 runs in the remainder of their innings. Shikha Pandey went for 20 runs in her first spell. However, barring the fast-bowler, the others were right on their money. The spin trio of Gayakwad, Anuja Patil and leggie Poonam Yadav tied down their batsmen with immaculate channels and kept Indian hopes alive.

Meanwhile, Sune Luus and Mignon du Preez stitched together a half-century stand and pegged away at the target. Veda Krishnamurthy grassed a simple catch at long on. Nevertheless, she made amends and took an excellent running catch to dismiss du Preez as Poonam Yadav picked her first wicket.

Chloe Tyron mauls India

The game was poised for a thrilling finish as South Africa required 43 runs off five overs. However, Chloe Tyron has the highest strike-rate in Women’s T20 Internationals and she did her reputation no harm as she took the spinners to the cleaners. She scored 18 runs off Anuja Patil in the sixteenth over and got the required rate to a run-a-ball.

Nevertheless, Pooja Vastrakar returned for her second spell and nipped out Sune Luss to reignite India’s chances of a comeback. However, Tyron’s knock went from strength to strength and guided South Africa to the brink of victory. Anuja Patil eventually dismissed her, but the hosts managed to romp home by five wickets with six balls to spare.

South Africa, as a result, opened their account in the T20 series against the Asian giants. Shabnim Ismail was rightfully adjudged as the Player of the Match award. The focus now shifts to the first T20 of the men’s series at the same venue which begins in an hour’s time.

Brief Scores

India 133 all out in 17.5 overs; Harmanpreet Kaur 48, Smriti Mandhana 37; Shabnim Ismail 5/30, Masabata Klaas 2/10

South Africa 134/5 in 18.2 overs; Sune Luus 41, Chloe Tyron 34; Pooja Vastrakar 2/21, Poonam Yadav 1/19

Result: South Africa beat India by five wickets

Player of the Match: Shabnim Ismail